Pabdotf aemington



( Model.)

P. ARMINGTON, Steam Engine Governor. No. 241,585. Patented May 17,1881.

N. PETERS, Pholo-Lithngnphar. war-mm". v.0.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC STEAM-ENGINE GOVERNOR.

srncrnrcatrrolv forming part of Letters Patent No. 241,585, dated Ma 17,1881.

Application filed March 23,1881. (No model.)

To cltwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAeDoN ARMINGTON, of Lawrence, countyot' Essex,State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement inSteam-Engine Governors, of which the following description, inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a specitication.

My invention relates to steam-engine governors of that class in whichthe valve-operating eccentric is moved relative toits shaft bycentrifugally-acting weights,to thereby vary the throw of the valve, andthus govern the admission of steam to the cylinder to control theengine. I I

In the governors of this class, as heretofore constructed, the eccentricbeing made movable relative to the shaft the valve will sometimes reacton the said eccentric, throwing it from the position it would normallyoccupy under the influenceof thegoverning-weights, and thuscause theengine to act improperly.

My invention has for one of its objects toobviate this difficulty; andit consists in so connecting the governing-weights and the eccentricthat the former readily acts on the latter to move it, but the weightscannot be moved by force applied to the eccentric bythe reaction of thevalve or otherwise.

The eccentric is shown as mounted on a carriage arranged to move insuitable guides on the outside of the case containing thegovernor-weights, springs,-&c., mounted on the main shaft of the enginein the. usual manner, the eccentric being thus free to travel in astraight line at right angles to the main shaft, to vary itseccentricity and the consequent throw of the valve.

The governing-weights, (shown as two. in number,) pivoted at oppositesides of the case and symmetrical relative to the main shaft, areconnected by a link, to equalize their action, and springs areinterposed between a suitablyheaded link connected with each of the saidweights and an abutment upon the case in such 7 manner that the saidsprings are compressed as the weights are thrown outward by cen trifugalforce, instead of being stretched in the usual manner, the springs whenacted on by compression retaining their force much more uniform'thanwhen under tension. One of the said weights is provided with a cam-likeportion, shown as a curved rib projecting from one face of the saidweight and engaging the co centric-carriage by means of a suitableblock, in which the said projecting rib fits, and as the weight moves onits pivot under the varying action of centrifugal force, the position ofthe portion of the cam-projection that engages the eccentric-carriage isvaried relative to the axis of the main shaft, so that it causes thecarria-ge and connected eccentric to move, as desired, to control theengine. The angle between ,the acting face of this cam and the line ofmovement of the eccentric-carriage is so nearly a right angle thataccording to the wellknown laws of friction a force applied to thecarriage in acting on the said cam will not be able to move it, so thatthe cam effectually locks the carriage and eccentric in whateverposition it has placed it. The eccentric-carriage is provided with twoprojections at its side, to receive between them the lever-a1 m of acounterbalancing-weight, by which the weigh t of the eccentric, itscarriage, and connected parts operated thereby may be balanced in allpositions. V

.Figure 1 is a face view of the inclosingcase and the weights andsprings therein, the weights being shown in their extreme outwardposition; Fig. 2, a view of the opposite side of the case, and theeccentric and its carriage and counterbalancing-weight thereon, in theposition assumed when the governing-weights are in their extreme inwardposition, as shown in dotted lines, the other extreme position of theeccentricbeing shown by the dotted circle; and v Fig. 3 a cross-sectionon the line as 00, Fig. 1.

Thecase a, having a hub, b, adapted to be fixed upon the main shaft 0 ofthe engine, is provided with suitable bearings at 2 3, for the pivots ofthe governing-weights d c, shaped as shown, to fit in the case a andswing back and forth between its hub b and peripheral rim under theaction of centrifugal force as the speed of rotation varies. The weights(1 c are connected by a link, f, pivoted to them at equal distances fromtheir pivoted bearin gs 2 3 in the case, and are thus caused to moveequally, the action of gravity on one weight balancing its action on theother,it tending to move the two weights in an opposite directionrelative to the hub of the case. The weights d e are provided with lugsg, in which are pivoted links h, provided with bearing heads or washerst, to receive the pressure of one end of the springs j surrounding thesaid links, and bearingat their other ends on suitable abutments, k,projecting from the hub b, and provided with apocket to receive the saidspring and a hole or passage, 4, through which the lugs g and links itpass. By this arrangement the springs j are compressed as the weights (10 move out from the center of the ease, and the weights will come torest when the centrifugal force and the opposing elastic force of thesprings are in equilibrium, the springs being more compressed the higherthe speed of the shaft 0, and consequent greater centrifugal foice ofthe weights d c. The force of the springs j can be adjusted by the nutst" to regulate their action, and thus control the speed of the engine.The weights d e are recessed to pass beneath the springs j and theirabutments k, and by this recessing two fingers, d e, are formed, each ofwhich passes beneath the other weight, when the weights are nearest thehub I), as indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 2. One of these fingers, asd, is provided with the eccentric-operating cam, shown as a segmentalrib, Z, projecting from the face of the finger opposite to the spring j,and engaging a slot in a circular block, m, fitted in a suitable socketin a projecting boss, at, from the carriage 0, sustaining theeccentricp, and mounted in guides r on the face of the case at, oppositeto that containing the weights d e, the boss npassingthrough a suitableopening, 5, in the said ca e.

The eccentric and its carriage are suitably slotted, as shown at 6, toenable them to be moved transversely to the shaft. The eccentricp ismounted on the carriage 0, with its center at a distance from a linepassin g through the axis of the main shaft 0 parallel totheline ofmovement of the said carriage sufficient to give the valve its leastthrow when the center of the eccentric is brought nearest to that of theshaft by the movement of the carriage, which takes place when theweights are thrown to their extreme outward position, as shown in Fig.1, this throw being just sufficient to maintain the lead of the valve.

When the weights move inward toward the position shown in dotted linesthe cam l, not moving concentrically with the axis of the shaft 0 as itpasses through the slotted block m, causes the said block to move towardthe center of the shaft, and thus cause the connected carriage 0 to movein its guides r and carry the eccentric toward the position shown infull lines, Fig. 2, increasing its throw in this movement, and thuscontrolling the valve and engine in the usual manner.

The carriage 0 is provided with two projections, 8 s, at one side andwithin one of the guides r, which is discontinuous, leaving a space forthe said projections, and forming therewith a stop for the carriage atthe end of its movement in either direction, the weights (1 0 being thenstopped by engaging the hub I) or peripheral rim of the case a. Theprojectionsss on the carriageo receive between them the rounded bearingend of the lever t, pivoted at 7 on the case a, and provided with theweight w to counterbalance the weight of the eccentric and carriage.

The cam l is so constructed thatits bearingface is always nearly normal,or at right angles to the line of movement of-the carriage 0 in itsguides r, so that aforce applied to the said carriage will be resistedby and powerless to move the said cam, which will place and retain thesaid carriage and eccentric in a position dependent on the positionassumed by the weights (1 0 when in equilibrium between the action ofcentrifugal force and that of the springs j.

I claim 1. In-a governor for steam-engines, the case fixed upon the mainshaft and govern or-weights pivoted therein, combined with the movableeccentric and its operating-cam attached to and actuated by one of thesaid weights, as described, to impart a positive movement to theeccentric and lock it in position when thus moved, substantially as setforth. 7

2. The governorcase provided with springabutinents and the weightspivoted therein, combined with the links, and their bearingheadsconnected with the said weights, andthe springs interposed between thesaid bearing heads and abutments, whereby the said springs are enabledto act under compression, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

3. The governor-caseand weight pivoted therein, and provided with acam-rib, combined with the eccentric and its carriage, and guidestherefor mounted on the said case, the said earriage being provided witha bearing-block for the said cam, whereby the weight in its movementcauses the eccentric and its carriage to travel in the guides,substantial] y as described.

4.. The eccentric and its carriage provided with lateralprojections,'combined with the guides for the said carriage, and theweighted lever having a bearing-arm to enter between the saidprojections, whereby the weight of'the eccentric, its carriage, andparts controlled thereby is counterbalanced and its movement limited,substantially as described.

5. The governor-case and weigh ts and springs therein, the said weightsbeing connected together by a link, and one of them provided with acam-rib, combined with the eccentric and its carriage provided with aboss and the bearing-blockfitted in the said boss and slotted to receivethe cam-rib, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

PARDON ARMINGTON.

Witnesses t J os. P. LIVERMORE, BERNICE J .N OYES.

